Planetarium



y 7, 1966 w. A. EISENHAUER 3,251,143

PLANETARIUM Filed April 9, 1963 FIG.|. on

2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. WILLIAM A .EISENHAUER ATTOR EYS y 7, 1966 w. A. EISENHAUER 3,251,143

PLANETARIUM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 9, 1963 INVENTOR.

United States Patent .0

3,251,143 PLANETARIUM William A. Eisenhauer, Van Wert, Ohio, assignor to The Eisenhauer Manufacturing Company, Van Wert, Ohio Filed Apr. 9, 1963, Ser. No. 271,658 6 Claims. (Cl. 35-47) This application is a continuation-in-part of copending application Serial No. 851,648, filed November 9, 1959, now Patent No. 3,088,228.

The invention'relates to 'planetariums and refers more particularly to a starscope for the visual representation of celestial bodies as they would appear at a selectable time and date.

As indicated in the copending application prior structures for studying celestial bodies have been mechanical 1y more complicated and therefore more expensive. Prior simple starscopes of the planisphere type have often been inefficient in that they inherently include considerable distortion. 4

The structure disclosed in the copending application is an improvement over prior structures for studying celestial bodies. My previously disclosed starscope is simple in structure, economical to produce and is particularly efficient in that a more advanced structure results while maintaining a relative simplicity of design and producing less distortion thereby.

The starscope which is the subject matter of the present invention is more sophisticated than my prior starscope in that the structure disclosed herein is in many ways simpler than the prior structure. Further, moving the sight opening of the starscope disclosed herein into a position on a selected zenith axis greatly reduces both the interference with viewing of star indicia and the distortion of the indicia found in the prior starscopes.

More particularly an object of the present invention is to provide a starscope having improved construction.

Another object is to provide a starscope wherein distortion is reduced to a minimum.

Another object is to provide an improved starscope including a first member having a circular periphery and including indicia positioned to represent celestial bodies, a second member rotatably secured to the periphery of the first member having a sight opening therein through which the indicia of the first member may be viewed and an opaque mask operably associated with the first and second members for selectively permitting viewing of only the indicia representing stars visible at a selected date and hour.

Another object is to provide a starscope as set forth above wherein the first member and mask are substantially flat and the second member is substantially a truncated cone.

- Another object is to provide a starscope as set forth above wherein the first member is a spherical segment, the mask is formed to match the contour of the first member, the second member is a conical member and the axis of the sight opening extends to coincide with a zenith relating to the indicia representing celestial bodies which zenith is arbitrarily set at fifty degrees north latitude.

Another object is to provide a starscope as set forth above wherein the first and second members are spherical segments and the distance from the sight opening in the second member to any point on the surface of the first member is equal to the radius of the sphere defined by the first member.

Another object is to provide a starscope as set forth said sight opening and the axis of said opening coincides with a zenith relating to the indicia representing celestial bodies which zenith is arbitrarily set at fifty degrees north latitude.

Another object is to provide a starscope as set forth above wherein the second member is provided with a lower transparent portion through which a sight opening in the mask oriented to approximately fifty degrees north latitude is visible and the mask is supported for rotation at the polar axis of thecelestial sphere represented by the hemispherical members.

Another object is to provide a starscope as set forth above wherein the mask is opaque and the first and/or second members or portions thereof may be opaque.

Another object is to provide a starscope which is simple in construction, economical to manufacture and efficient in use.

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds, especially when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, illustrating preferred embodiments of the invention, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a partly broken away elevational view of a starscope constructed in accordance with the invention.

starscope illustrated in FIGURE 1 taken in the direction of arrows 2 and 3 respectively in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged view of the portion 4 of the starscope illustrated in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged partial section view of a modification of the starscope of the invention.

FIGURE 6 is an elevation view of another modification of the starscope of the invention.

FIGURE 7 is an end view of the starscope illustrated in FIGURE 6 taken in the direction of arrow 7 in FIG- URE 6. 1

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged section view of the portion 8 of the starscope illustrated in FIGURE 6.

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged section view of the portion 9 of the starscope illustrated in FIGURE 6. I

FIGURE 10 is an enlarged partial section view of a further modification of the starscope of the invention.

FIGURES 11 and 12 are elevation views of still further modifications of the starscope of the invention.

With particular reference to the figures of the drawings, one embodiment of the present invention will now be considered in detail.

, The starscope 10 illustrated in FIGURES 1-4 includes two opaque hemispherical members 12 and .14 permanently connected together by means of annular flanges 16 and 18 respectively thereon in conjunction with the date ring 20 having the lower surface 22 divided into angular portions representing the days of the months for all of the months of the year. As indicated in FIGURE 1 the hemispherical members 12 and 14 are provided with openings 24 extending therethrough representative of heavenly bodies on a celestial sphere.

The member 14 of the starscope 10, as shown in FIG- URE 1, has a part 26 which is rotatable about the polar axis 28 of the celestial sphere formed by hemispherical I of the starscope 10 in surface-to-surface engagement with FIGURES 2 and 3 are elevation views of portions of the the periphery 27 thereof. The abutting edges of the part 26 of the hemispherical member 14 of the starscope and the remainder. of the hemispherical member 14 are bevelled, as shown best in FIGURE 4, to insure that the periphery 27 of the remainder of member 14 remains in surface-to-surface engagement with the spherical segment 32.

The hemispherical member 14 of the starscope 10 is further provided with a'sight opening 34 therein through which the openings 24 or other star indicia on the starscope may be viewed. The sight opening 34, as shown complete in FIGURES 1 and 2 and in part in detail in FIGURE 4, includes an outer annular member 36 having the points of the compass indicated thereon, as shown best in FIGURE 2. A central annular member 38 for spacing the lower hemispherical portion 14 of the starscope 10 from the mask 40 thereof and an inner annular member 42 for securing the mask 40 to the part 26 of the lower portion 14 of the starscope 10 by convenient means, such as rivets 44, are also included as part of the sight opening 34. Theaxis of generation of sight opening 34, shown in FIGURE 1, is at an angle of forty degrees With respect to the polar axis 28 of the celestial sphere represented by the hemispherical members 12 and 14. Thus the sight opening is oriented for fifty degrees north latitude and the distortion when viewing the celestial bodies not shielded by the mask 40 in operation is reduced as compared to a structure wherein the sight opening is on the polar axis of the hemispherical portions of the starscope 10. With the construction shown the axis of generation of the sight opening 34 coincides with a zenith relating to the indicia 24 which zenith is arbitrarily set at fifty degrees north latitude.

A date dial selector 46, as shown best in FIGURES 1 and 3, is secured to the part 26 of the lower member 14 of the starscope 10 by convenient means, such as rivets 48. The date dial selector includes thereon the view arrow 50 and the sun arrow 52.

An hour dial indicator 54 is rotatably mounted on the date dial selector 46 as shown best in FIGURE 1. The surface 56 of the hour dial indicator 54 is divided angularly into twenty-four portions representing the hours of the date, as shown best in FIGURE 3.

In operation of the starscope 10 a specific date and time at which it is desired to view the locations of celestial bodies is selected. The date dial selector 46 is then rotated with respect to the date ring 22 by means of rotating the part 26 of the hemispherical member 14 of the starscope with respect to the rest of the starscope until the sun arrow 52 points to the date selected. The hour dial indicator 54 is then rotated in relation to the date dial selector until the twelve midnight indication on the hour dial indicator aligns with the view arrow 50 on the date dial selector, as indicated in FIGURE 3.

With the view arrow 50 on the date dial selector 46 in alignment with the twelve midnight indication on the hour dial indicator 54 and the selected date on the date ring 22 in alignment with the sun arrow 52 on the date dial selector the mask which rotates with the date dial selector 46 will allow the celestial bodies which are visible at midnight on the selected day to be visible within the starscope when the inner surface of the starscope is viewed from the opening 34.

The hour dial indicator 54 may then be held stationary with respect to the date ring while the date dial selector 46 and the mask 40 together with the part 26 of member 14 are rotated relative thereto until the view arrow 50 points to the time indication on the hour dial indicator at which it is desired to view the celestial bodies. The view within the starscope from the opening 34 will then be the desired representation of the celestial bodies on the selected day at the selected time.

While the starscope 10 illustrated in FIGURES 1-4 has been described with the star indicia being openings 24 in opaque members 12 and 14 which is preferred, it will be understood that the indicia may be luminous paint on the interior of opaque members 12 and 14. Further the indicia may be painted on transparent or translucent mem bers 12 and 14. In addition either members 12 and 14 or part 26 of the member 14 may be opaque, translucent or transparent as desired. Mask 40 should always be opaque.

A modification 57 of the starscope 10 is illustrated in FIGURE 5. The starscope 57 is similar to starscope 10 in my above referenced copending application, except as shown in FIGURE 5, and will not therefore be considered in detail herein except as to the diflerences therebetween.

As shown in FIGURE 5 the modified starscope 57 has an opaque member 61 over the sight opening provided in the starscope 10 of my copending application. With respect to the modification 57 the sight opening 63 through the mask 65 again has an axis of generation extending at an angle of approximately forty degrees with respect to the polar axis 67 of the'starscope 57 so that the sight opening is oriented to fifty degrees north latitude. Also, in the modified starscope 57 the portion 69 of the hemi sphere 73 is transparent and no opening is thus required through the hemispherical member 73 and no joint construction 30 is provided in the modified starscope 57.

Another modification 60 of the starscope of the invention is shown in FIGURES 6-9. In the modified starscope 60 indicia representing all of the heavenly bodies viewable from a particular latitude are represented on a spherical segment 62 by means of openings 64 or other indicia viewable from the interior of the starscope 60. The segment 62 is rotatably secured by means of structure 68, best shown in FIGURE 9, to the member 70. The member 70 is in the form of a truncated cone having a sight opening 72 at the smaller end 74 thereof around which the annular member 76 having compass designations thereon, as shown best in FIGURE 8, is secured by convenient means, such as rivets 78.

Structure 68 and in particular channel thereof secure's the hermispherical member 62, conical member 70 and the mask 71 together to form the complete starscope 60. Mask 71 is contoured to the shape of the spherical segment 62, as shown best in FIGURE 6.

Structure 68 includes the annular member 75 providing support for the flange 66 on the segment 62 which has date dial selector indications positioned angularly around the circumstance thereof on the surface 77, the annular ring 79 having the channel 80 formed in the radially outer circumference thereof engaging the annular member 82, the annular flange 84 on the mask 71 and the annular member 86 which is L-shaped in cross section. The annular member 75, flange 66 of the spherical segment 62 and the annular member 79 are secured together by convenient means, such as the rivet 88. Similarly the an nular member 82, the flange 84 of the mask 71 and the annular member 86 which is secured to the end 90 of the conical member 70 by rivets 91 are secured together by convenient means, such as the rivet 92. Thus the members secured together by rivets 88 and rivets 92 are rotatable relative to each other.

The surface 94 of the flange S4 of mask 71 is angularly divided into time indications to indicate the hour of viewing the stars presented on the starscope 60.

Thus in use the date dial selector is rotated with respect to the fixed hour dial indicator until the time of viewing the starscope is immediately opposite the date selected as read from the date dial selector and hour dial indicator. The indicia which the fixed mask 71 will perunit viewing of from the sight opening 72 will then be the indicia of those celestial bodies which are visible on the selected date at the selected hour. Alternatively, of course, the hour dial indicator may be rotated while the date dial selector is held stationary to align the time of viewing with a selected date.

Another modification of the invention is illustrated in FIGURE 10. The modified starscope 95 illustrated in FIGURE 10 is exactly like the starscope illustrated in FIGURES 6-9 with the exception of the fact that the member 96 in which the star indicia openings 98 are formed and the mask 100 are fiat as in the starscope illustrated in FIGURE 5 in my previously referred to copending application. The starscope 95 illustrated in FIG- 'URE 10 has the advantage of being easier to produce than the starscope 60 of FIGURES 6-9. The star indications on the starscope 95 are however somewhat more distorted than those of starscope 60 since the indicia are presented on a flat surface in starscope 95.

The starscope 102 illustrated in FIGURE 11 is entirely similar to the starscope illustrated in FIGURES 6-9 with the exception that the conical member 104 is of different proportion and the sight opening 106 is oriented to fifty degrees northlatitude relating to the indicia 110 representing celestial bodies on the spherical segment 108. Such orienting of the sight opening 106 permits viewing of the star indicia on segment 108 which would be visible on a particular day at a particular time with less interference and distortion than would bepossible with starscopes not having a sight opening so oriented.

The modified starscope 112 illustrated in FIGURE 12 is exactly like the starscope illustrated in FIGURES 6-9 excepting that the member 114 is a spherical segment rather than being conical and the distance from the sight opening116 to the surface 118 of the spherical segment 120 having the star indicia 122 thereon is equal to the radius of the sphere of which the spherical segment 120 is a portion. Thus a viewer looking through the sight opening 116 of the starscope 112 will view the star indicia 122 as though he were at the center of a celestial sphere on a predetermined zenith axis. Thus by such construction the distortion of the star indicia in the starscope 112 is reduced.

The modified starscope 112 is also similar to the starscope illustrated in FIGURE 4 of the above referenced copending application. In the latter starscope however the hour dial is located at the sight opening. Starscope 112 could obviously be so modified within the scope of the invention to produce a starscope like that of FIGURE 4 of the copending application wherein the distance between the sight opening and the indicia is equal to the radius of a celestial sphere.

While one embodiment of the present invention and several modifications thereof have been considered in detail it will be understood that other embodiments and modifications are contemplated. For example, while the embodiments and modifications of the invention considered in detail herein are all intended to be of a size to be hand carried, it is quite possible to provide the same starscopes of a size to permit supporting thereof from a classroom ceiling so that a student may position his whole head in the sight opening. Also, it would of course be possible to include in the embodiments and modifications of the invention set forth herein the meridian line and different planetary wires and indicators disclosed in the above referenced copending patent application. It is the intention to include all embodiments and modifications of the disclosed starscope which are defined by the appended claims within the scope of the invention.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A starscope for providing a visual representation of celestial bodies comprising an enclosure representing a celestial sphere including a first member having an axis of generation and indiciaof celestial bodies thereon, a second member secured to said first member for rotation about the axis of generation thereof and having a common axis of generation therewith completing said enclosure and having a direct sight opening therein having an axis of generation making a substantial angle with the common axis of generation of the first and second members whereby the sight opening is oriented to a predetermined latitude through which the indicia of the celestial bodies on the first member are directly viewable and a mask positioned between the first and second members and rotatable with respect to said first member for selectively masking from view from the sight opening all indicia not visible at a selected hour on a selected day.

the year spaced angularly around the date ring, indicia representative of celestial bodies on the celestial sphere represented by the hemispherical members, means for rotating a spherical segment of one of said hemispherical members defined by a plane passing through the one hemispherical member substantially parallel to said date ring with respect to the remainder of the one hemispherical member, the celestial sphere represented by the hemispherical members having a polar axis extending substantially perpendicularly to the plane of the date ring, a date dial selector secured to said spherical segment concentric with said polar axis, an hour dial indicator rotatably mounted on said date dial selector, a sight opening through said spherical segment having an axis of generation making an angle of substantially forty degrees with the polar axis of the celestial sphere so that the sight opening is oriented to fifty degrees north latitude on the celestial sphere, a hemispherical mask positioned within the celestial sphere between the sight opening through said part of the one hemispherical member andthe indicia representa tive of celestial bodies on the celestial sphere which mask has a sight opening therethrough aligned with the sight opening through said part of the one hemispherical member and which mask is secured to the part of the one hemispherical member about the periphery of the aligned sight openings therethrough for rotation with said part of the one hemispherical member.

5. A starscope for providing a visual representation of celestial bodies visible at a selected hour on a selected day, comprising a first and second hemispherical member,

a date ring connecting the hemispherical members together about the periphery of the open sides thereof to represent a celestial sphere, means representing the days of the year spaced angularly around the date ring, indicia representative of celestial bodies on the celestial sphere -represented by the hemispherical members, the celestial sphere represented by said hemispherical members having a polar axis extending substantially perpendicularly to said date ring, a date dial selector rotatably mounted concentric with the polar axisat the south pole of the celestial sphere, an hour dial indicator rotatably mounted on said date dial selector, a hemispherical mask positioned within the celestial sphere for masking the celestial bodies not visible from a selected latitude on a selected day at a selected hour, means connecting the mask to'the date dial selector for rotation therewith, a sight opening extending through said mask having an axis of generation making an angle of approximately forty degrees with respect to the polar axis of the celestial sphere whereby the sight opening is oriented for approximately fifty degrees north latitude and a transparent band around said one hemispherical member for permitting viewing of the indicia through the sight'opening in the mask and the one hemispherical member with the date dial selector in any angular position thereof.

6. A starscope for providing a visual representation of celestial bodies visible at a selected hour on a selected day, comprising a first and a second hemispherical member, a date ring connecting the hemispherical members together about the periphery of the open side thereof to represent a celestial sphere, means representing the days of the year spaced angularly around the date ring, indicia 7 representative of celestial bodies on the celestial sphere represented by the hemispherical members, means for rotating a spherical segment of one of said hemispherical members defined by a plane passing through the one hemispherical member substantially parallel to said date ring with respect to the remainder of the one hemispherical member, the celestial sphere represented by the hemispherical members having a polar axis extending substantially perpendicularly to the plane of the date ring, a date dial selector secured to said spherical segment concentric with said polar axis, an hour dial indicator rotatably mounted on said date dial selector, a sight opening through said spherical segment having an axis of generation making an angle of substantially 40 with the polar oriented to 50 north latitude on the celestial sphere, and a transparent window provided over the sight opening.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,099,315 6/1914 Scholes 3547 2,135,287 11/1938 Houston 35--47 X 2,588,472 3/ 1952 Beeson 3547 2,985,969 5/1961 Farquhar 3547 3,088,228 5 1963 Eisenhauer 3545 JEROME SCHNALL, Primary Examiner.

axis of the celestial sphere so that the sight opening is 15 EUGENE CAPOZIQEXQmiMF- 

1. A STARSCOPE FOR PROVIDING A VISUAL REPRESENTATION OF CELESTIAL BODIES COMPRISING AN ENCLOSURE REPRESENTING A CELESTIAL SPHERE INCLUDING A FIRST MEMBER HAVING AN AXIS OF GENERATION AND INDICIA OF CELESTIAL BODIES THEREON, A SECOND MEMBER SECURED TO SAID FIRST MEMBER FOR ROTATION ABOUT THE AXIS OF GENERATION THEREOF AND HAVING A COMMON AXIS OF GENERATION THEREWITH COMPLETING SAID ENCLOSURE AND HAVING A DIRECT SIGHT OPENING THEREIN HAVING AN AXIS OF GENERATION MAKING A SUBSTANTIAL ANGLE WITH THE COMMON AXIS OF GENERATION OF THE FIRST AND SECOND MEMBERS WHEREBY THE SIGHT OPENING IS ORIENTED TO A PREDETERMINED LATITUDE THROUGH WHICH THE INDICIA OF THE CELESTIAL BODIES ON THE FIRST MEMBER ARE DIRECTLY VIEWABLE AND A MASK POSITIONED BETWEEN THE FIRST AND SECOND MEMBERS AND ROTATABLE WITH RESPECT TO SAID FRST MEMBER FOR SELECTIVELY MASKING FROM VIEW FROM THE SIGHT OPENING ALL INDICIA NOT VISIBLE AT A SELECTED HOUR ON A SELECTED DAY. 